Sempre verde nell’arte – Gli alberi sacri: at the Hoffmann Museum in Caltagirone, an event dedicated to the dialogue between art, nature and symbol

The Hoffmann Museum in Caltagirone will host, on Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., the event “Sempre verde nell’arte – Sacred Trees”, a cultural appointment devoted to the profound relationship between art, nature, memory and spirituality.

The initiative offers an opportunity to reflect on the symbolic value of the tree, a universal figure that runs through the history of art, religious traditions, popular culture and the contemporary imagination. Roots, trunk, branches and crown become visual and conceptual elements capable of expressing growth, transformation, continuity, belonging and the connection with the sacred.

With this event, the Hoffmann Museum confirms its vocation as a place of encounter, research and sharing, open to dialogue among institutions, scholars, artists, lecturers, students and the wider community.

A cultural event in Caltagirone between art and nature

“Sempre verde nell’arte – Sacred Trees” presents a path that intertwines artistic languages, theoretical reflection and exhibition practices. The theme of the tree is explored not only as a natural subject, but also as a presence charged with meaning: a symbol of life, memory, elevation, protection and connection between earth and sky.

Over the centuries, the tree has played a central role in the art and spirituality of many civilizations. From the Tree of Life to sacred representations, from mythological woods to contemporary visions of the landscape, its image continues to embody one of the most powerful symbols of the relationship between human beings, nature and transcendence.

The event at the Hoffmann Museum in Caltagirone aims to enhance this symbolic dimension, offering the public an opportunity for in-depth reflection and participation.

Institutional greetings

The event will open with institutional greetings by Claudio Lo Monaco, Councillor for Cultural Heritage of the Municipality of Caltagirone, and Sergio Gruttadauria, Vice President of the Metropolitan City of Catania.

The presence of the institutions underlines the cultural value of the initiative and the role of the Hoffmann Museum as an active space for the promotion of art, education and the enhancement of the local area.

Paolo Giansiracusa’s Lectio Magistralis

The central moment of the meeting will be the Lectio Magistralis by Paolo Giansiracusa, art historian and scholar long engaged in research, teaching and the promotion of artistic heritage.

His lecture will guide the audience through a critical reading of the theme of sacred trees in art, analyzing the meaning of images, the power of symbols and the persistence of archetypal forms in visual culture. Through his contribution, the tree will become a key to accessing a universe of artistic, historical and spiritual references.

The contribution of Paolina Giansiracusa and Salvatore Pennacchio

The project is coordinated by Paolina Giansiracusa and Salvatore Pennacchio, lecturers at the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania, who are leading a path that brings together teaching, artistic research and cultural planning.

Paolina Giansiracusa carries out artistic and educational work focused on visual languages, pictorial practice and the creation of exhibition paths capable of enhancing the relationship between artwork, space and memory. Her contribution is part of a vision of art as a formative, cultural and sensitive experience.

Salvatore Pennacchio works in the fields of graphic design, visual communication and digital languages, with particular attention to image design and new forms of contemporary visual culture. His presence enriches the project with a perspective linked to design, communication and experimentation.

Together, the two lecturers coordinate an exhibition moment involving students from the Academy, transforming the event into an opportunity for dialogue between artistic education, cultural institutions and the local area.

Students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania as protagonists of the exhibition moment

The day will include an exhibition moment curated by students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania, from the courses of Painting, Graphic Design and Illustration, Scenography and Communication Design, belonging to the Department of Visual Arts and Applied Arts.

The students’ participation is one of the most significant aspects of the initiative. The Hoffmann Museum becomes a space for experimentation and visibility for young artists in training, offering them the opportunity to engage with a theme of strong symbolic value within a museum context open to dialogue with the community.

Through works, signs, images and personal interpretations, the students will propose a contemporary reading of the sacred tree, offering the public a plurality of perspectives and sensitivities.

The participation of the Arteimposa atelier from Syracuse

Artists from the Arteimposa atelier in Syracuse will also take part in the event, contributing to broadening the creative and cultural dialogue around the theme of sacred trees.

The involvement of artists, lecturers and students makes “Sempre verde nell’arte” a collective event, founded on the sharing of experiences, skills and visions.

The Hoffmann Museum as a place of encounter and culture

With “Sempre verde nell’arte – Sacred Trees”, the Hoffmann Museum in Caltagirone presents an event that brings together dissemination, art, education and participation.

The initiative is part of a broader vision of the museum as a living space, capable of welcoming cultural projects that connect heritage, contemporary creativity and the local area.

The public is invited to take part in an afternoon of reflection and discovery, in which art becomes a tool for observing nature, recognizing symbols and rediscovering the value of common roots.

Event information

Title: Sempre verde nell’arte – Sacred Trees
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2026
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Hoffmann Museum, Caltagirone

Institutional greetings:
Claudio Lo Monaco, Councillor for Cultural Heritage of the Municipality of Caltagirone
Sergio Gruttadauria, Vice President of the Metropolitan City of Catania

Lectio Magistralis:
Paolo Giansiracusa

Speakers:
Antonino Navanzino, Director of the Hoffmann Museum
Paolina Giansiracusa and Salvatore Pennacchio, project coordinators

Exhibition moment curated by:
Students from the Academy of Fine Arts of Catania
Courses of Painting, Graphic Design and Illustration, Scenography and Communication Design
Department of Visual Arts and Applied Arts

With the participation of:
Artists from the Arteimposa atelier in Syracuse

Invitation to participate

The Hoffmann Museum invites citizens, students, artists, cultural professionals and art enthusiasts to attend “Sempre verde nell’arte – Sacred Trees”, an event dedicated to the beauty of symbols, the power of nature and the value of art as a shared experience.

The appointment is for Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., at the Hoffmann Museum in Caltagirone.